Mailbag: A Janell Burse update

A poster wondered why Storm coach Brian Agler hasn’t picked up the phone to contact Janell Burse to ask if she’s willing to play the rest of the season. But for those hoping the the 6-foot-5 center could return as a quick fix to Lauren Jackson missing the remainder of the season due to right ankle surgery, zap that dream. Burse, a member of the Storm’s 2004 championship team, is en route to Russia to play for Moscow Dynamo — the same team former teammate Sue Bird represented.
Burse notified Seattle in May that she would be unable to play this season due to shoulder and foot injuries sustained while playing in Prague in April. She has rested those injuries and worked out with an NBA trainer this summer, preparing to return overseas.
Agler said he spoke with Burse this week and she stated she’s healthy. But Burse will not play in the WNBA this season. She was suspended by Agler, the team’s director of player personnel.
“She’s excited about coming back to play [in 2009] and has been following us,” Agler said of the conversation with Burse. “She’s feeling better and refreshed and she’s going to go over and play in Moscow.”
Agler still is keeping his options open, saying that he contacted Margo Dydek’s representatives too late for there to be a possibility of signing the 7-foot-2 veteran. Los Angeles signed the Polish center late Tuesday night to replace injured post player Christi Thomas. Agler mentioned there being a problem getting visas for international players, but Connecticut signed Russian Svetlana Abrosimova and Australian Erin Phillips this week.
At practice, Storm players were chatty about the season starting again. Seattle plays Houston at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Comets finished pre-Olympic play as the hottest team in the league, finishing on a five-game win streak. But since then, they’ve had to deal with a high-ankle sprain to starting forward Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and their owner putting the franchise up for sale.

About Women’s Hoops

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!" You can email Jayda or follow her on Twitter.